GB1362445A - Electropneumatic propelling system for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

1362445 Propelling vehicles OSCAR KOGYO KK 30 Aug 1972 40132/72 Heading B7H [Also in Division F1] A vehicle propulsion system comprises a source 2 of compressed air which supplies a turbine T driving an electric generator 6 for charging a battery B which in turn supplies an electric motor Me, a pneumatic motor Mp driven by compressed air from the source 2 under the control of valve V, and differential gearing Ge connected to both the electric and pneumatic motors and to the driving wheels of the vehicle. The source 2 contains liquefied air supplied to the turbine T through a pressure regulator 3. The electric and pneumatic motors Me, Mp form a single unit M, the motor Me being reversible and the motor Mp being a reciprocating piston motor. The unit M is integral with the differential gearing Ge having an output shaft 15 connected by bevel gears 16, 17 to a differential gear 19 on a driving axle 20. An accelerator pedal 21 actuates valve V while a forward/reverse control lever 22 is coupled to gearing Ge. An input shaft 26, Fig. 6, carries a sun wheel 34 meshing planet gears 35, also meshing a ring gear 36, while a shaft 40 integral with shaft 26 is formed with a disc 40a carrying the gears 35. A sun wheel 42, Fig. 3, meshes planet wheels 43 also meshing a ring gear 44. Ring gears 36, 44 have external teeth 36b, 44b respectively, the teeth 44b being driven by teeth 52a on one of a pair of discs 52 driven through a crank pin 54 by the piston 47 of motor Mp. A disc 60, Fig. 6, keyed to shaft 26 engages one of two rollers 61a, 61b carried by carriage 62 slidable by actuation of forward/reverse control lever 22 from a neutral position. In the position shown in Fig. 6, roller 61a prevents clockwise rotation of the disc 60. Upon engagement of the roller 61b with disc 60 counterclockwise rotation is prevented. A rack 66 engaging teeth 36b is secured by linkages 70 to a spool 71. Teeth 36b also mesh a pinion 81 carrying an arm 82 which actuates switches 83a, 83b included in circuits for the forward and reverse rotation respectively of the motor Me, such that switch 83a is closed when arm 82 rotates counterclockwise and vice versa. Fig. 6 shows the start up condition of the system with the pedal 21 depressed, such that valve V supplies motor Mp through ports S and x to effect forward drive of the shaft 15 through the differential gearing Ge, the motor Me being energized to also effect forward drive through closure of switch 83a, to increase starting torque. During cruising, spool 71 closes port x, such that the vehicle is propelled solely by the motor Me. Engine braking for downhill travel is effected by movement of the rack 66 and so the spool 71 to the right to interconnect ports S and y, such that piston 47 compresses air within the cylinder 28a.